National Motto Letter to President Obama : snopes.com - - Claim: Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus sent President Obama a letter correcting his reference to E pluribus unum as the U.S. national motto. TRUE Example: [Collected via e-mail, January 2011] PRESIDENT CORRECTED BY CONGRESS ON NATIONAL MOTTO National Motto Letter from Congress This is an actual letter dated December 6, 2010, sponsored by Michelle Bachmann and others in Congress. Since the contents of the letter and what it represents are not getting any national media coverage, it is good to know that the letter is now and forever part of the public record. [Click here to view letter.] Origins: During a speech he delivered at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta on 10 November 2010, President Obama said: "I believe that the history of both America and Indonesia should give us hope. It is a story written into our national mottos. In the United States, our motto is E pluribus unum — out of many, one. Our nations show that hundreds of millions who hold different beliefs can be united in freedom under one flag." In 1782, the U.S.

Continental Congress proposed the use of the Latin phrase E pluribus unum (commonly translated as "out of many, one" or "one from many") on the Great Seal of the United States as a reference to the original thirteen American colonies' having joined together as a single united entity. The phrase is still a component of the Seal of the United States and has appeared on U.S. coinage since 1795. However, although E pluribus unum was long considered the de facto national motto of the United States, it was never officially established as such by legislation. The only legislatively established national motto the United States has ever had is "In God We Trust," a phrase which first appeared on U.S. coinage in 1864 (and is now a part of all U.S. currency and coinage) and which was adopted as the official U.S. national motto through a law passed by Congress in 1956. On 6 December 2010, forty-two members (forty-one Republicans and one Democrat) of the Congressional Prayer Caucus , an organization founded and co-chaired by Congressman J.

Randy Forbes of Virginia, sent a letter to President Obama to correct his reference to E pluribus unum as the U.S. national motto: We write today in response to a speech given on November 10, 2010, at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia, in which you stated 'But I believe that the history of both America and Indonesia should give us hope. It is a story written into our national mottos. In the United States, our motto is E pluribus unum — out of many one ... our nations show that hundreds of millions who hold different beliefs can be united in freedom under one flag." E pluribus unum is not our national motto. In 1956, Congress passed and President Eisenhower approved the law establishing 'In God We Trust' as the official national motto of the United States. This motto is also referenced in our national anthem and is engraved on our coins and currency. (The fourth and final stanza of the U.S. national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, contains the line: "And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust'.) Other modern presidents have made reference to E pluribus unum as the U.S.

motto with little or no comment, such as President Ronald Reagan, who, in an address to the National Forum on Excellence in Education in 1983, said: "The motto of the United States is E Pluribus Unum, from many, one. Well, more than any other institution, our schools built that one from the many." Last updated: 13 January 2011 Snopes Delivered to Your Inbox: Sign Up USSSP: Great Seal and National Mottos of the U.S.A. The National Mottos of the United States of America This page concentrates on the history of the Great Seal of the United States and the National Motto of the United States (In God We Trust). The Great Seal of the United States of America On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress set a committee to work to design a national seal. The task was a monumental one since the feeling was that it reflected the Founding Fathers' beliefs, values and sovereignty of the new Nation. Original designs varied widely. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson proposed a design representing Moses crossing the Red Sea, with Pharaoh in hot pursuit. It included the motto: 'Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God'.

The task was not complete until the current design was approved by Congress on June 20, 1782. The device or design on the obverse (front) of the Great Seal is the coat of arms (emblem) of the United States. Strictly speaking without the crest (constellation of stars). Used apart from the seal for a number of official government purposes. The coat of arms is the symbol and badge of the United States Government. The Great Seal of the United States, both obverse and reverse, is pictured on the back of the $1 bill. The seal is a heraldic device, and as such, each element has a specific meaning. Obverse (Front) The American bald eagle is prominently featured supporting a shield composed of 13 red and white stripes (pales) representing the Thirteen Original states with a blue bar (chief) uniting the shield and representing Congress. The shield is born on the breast of the eagle without any other supporters to denote that the United States ought to rely on their own virtue. The motto of the United States E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one) is emblazoned on the scroll held in the eagle's beak and refers to this union.

The olive branch (dexter talon) and 13 arrows (sinister talon) grasped by the eagle allude to peace and war, powers solely vested in the Congress, and the constellation of stars (crest), breaking through a cloud symbolizes the new Nation taking its place among the sovereign powers. The eagle faces right, which is proper in heraldry. The colors have specific meanings. The colors red, white and blue did not have a meaning for the flag when adopted in 1777, but do have meaning in the seal. white -- purity and innocence blue - color of the Chief represents vigilance, perseverance and justice Reverse (Back) The unfinished pyramid signifies strength and duration: The eye over it and the motto, Annuit Coeptis (He, [God,] has favored our undertakings), allude to the many interventions of Providence in favor of the American cause. The Roman numerals below are the date of the Declaration of Independence. The words under it, novus Ordo Seclorum (a new order of the ages), signify the beginning of the new American era beginning in 1776. Frequently Asked Questions about the Great Seal Where is the Great Seal stored?

The Great Seal (obverse only) is used to emboss the design upon international Treaties and other official U.S. Government documents. Used 2-3,000 times a year, the die, counter die, press and cabinet in which they are housed are located in the Exhibit Hall of the Department of State inside a locked glass enclosure. An officer from the Department's Presidential Appointments Staff does the actual sealing of documents after the Secretary of State has countersigned the President's signature. Why is the seal called 'great'? The seal is called 'great' by tradition. A 'great' seal is used to represent the government of a country. In the case of the United States, it is used to authenticate the President's signature on certain state documents. Some countries, such as in the case of the British privy seal, have 'lesser' seals that are used to signify the royal family. The United States does not use the concept of a 'lesser' seal, however it still uses the word 'great' in the title of the Great Seal. Has the Eagle always faced the olive branch? Yes, since the first die was cast, the eagle has always faced right and has held the olive branch in its right talon.

Presidential flags, seals (and coats of arms) showed the eagle facing left, towards the arrows, until 1945 when President Truman changed a number of items in the presidential flag and seal [Executive Order 9646].One of the changes was to have the eagle face right, towards the olive branch "This new flag faces the eagle toward the staff," Truman explained, "which is looking to the front all the time when you are on the march, and also has him looking at the olive branch for peace, instead of the arrows for war ...ï¿½ President Truman meant the shift in the eagle's gaze to be seen as symbolic of a nation both on the march and dedicated to peace. It has remained that way ever since. Contrary to a popular myth, the eagle in the Presidential seal does not flip his gaze during times of war. Although when Truman and Churchill were looking at the new symbol on a train car, Churchill remarked that he thought the eagle's head should be on a swivel. That may be the origin of the myth. In any case, it is incorrect. The arrows and olive branches are always held in the same claws. Is it true that Benjamin Franklin really wanted the turkey as the national symbol?

Benjamin Franklin's idea for a coat of arms was of Moses crossing the Red Sea (see above), however almost eight years after his service on the seal committee, and after a design for the seal had been adopted and put into use, Franklin expressed his distaste for the bald eagle as the symbol of the country to a letter to his daughter in 1784. Franklin was probably not writing seriously, as he had promptly used the Great Seal device, with the eagle, in two publications printed on his press at Passy in 1783. But the story has been widely disseminated. Did freemasonry influence the Great Seal designs? Because membership records for the Revolutionary period are scattered and imperfect, it is not possible to answer this with complete certainty. There is no evidence that the final designers of the Great Seal, Charles Thomson or Philadelphia William Barton, were Masons. It is more likely that the seal designers of the Great Seal and the Masons took their symbols from parallel sources. The National Mottos In God We Trust The national motto originated with Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase during the Civil War. Prompted by a letter from Rev. M. R.

Watkinson, of Ridleyville, Pennsylvania asking for a recognition of "the Almighty God in some form in our coins.", Chase requested Congress to pass a law changing the composition of the 2-cent piece to include the motto "In God we trust". The law as passed on April 22, 1864. Eventually the motto appeared on many U.S. coins and currencies. When the double eagle and eagle of new design appeared in 1907, it was soon discovered that the motto had been omitted. In response to a general demand, Congress ordered it restored, and the act of May 18, 1908, made mandatory its appearance upon all coins which it had heretofore appeared. The act approved July 11, 1955, makes appearance of the motto "In God we trust" mandatory upon all coins of the United States. (69 Stat. 290. 31 U.S. Code 324a) On July 30, 1956 a law was passed stating that "the national motto of the United States is hereby declared to be 'In God we trust'." (70 Stat. 732. 36 U.S.

Code 186). The House Judiciary Committee recognized that the phrase E Pluribus Unum had also received wide usage in the United States, and the joint resolution did not repeal or prohibit its use as a national motto. In 1963 the Department of State took the following position: "'In God we trust'" is the motto of the United States. It seems to the Department, nevertheless, that there is ample basis both in history and in law for calling 'E Pluribus Unum' a motto of the United States." The Congress has used both. E Pluribus Unum E Pluribus Unum means "out of many, one". It comes from a popular publication during revolutionary times entitled Gentleman's Magazine which carried that legend upon the title page. The magazine was well known to literate Americans of the time. The Gentleman's Magazine obtained the legend from an earlier and long out of print publication called the Gentleman's Journal which used the motto in 1692. And perhaps ultimately to Virgil, St. Augustine or Horace. It was first used extensively in the United States only after it was introduced on the Great Seal.

Frequently Asked Questions about the National Mottos Have federal court cases cast doubt on the constitutionality of the motto "In God we trust"? The federal courts have held that the motto symbolizes the historical role of religion in our society, Lynch, 465 U.S. at 676, formalizes our medium of exchange, see O'Hair v. Blumenthal, 462 F. Supp. 19, 20 (W.D. Tex.), aff'd sub nom. O'Hair v. Murray, 588 F.2d 1144 (5th Cir. 1978) (per curiam), and cert. denied, 442 U.S.930 (1979), fosters patriotism, see Aronow v. United States, 432 F.2d 242, 243 (9th Cir. 1970), and expresses confidence in the future, Lynch, 465 U.S. at 692-93 (O'Connor, J., concurring).

The motto's primary effect is not to advance religion; instead, it is a form of "ceremonial deism" which through historical usage and ubiquity cannot be reasonably understood to convey government approval of religious belief. Allegheny, 492 U.S. at 625 (O'Connor, J., concurring); Lynch, 465 U.S. at 693 (O'Connor, J., concurring); id. at 716 (Brennan, J., dissenting). Finally, the motto does not create an intimate relationship of the type that suggests unconstitutional entanglement of church and state. O'Hair, 462 F. Supp. at 20. "After making [inquiries], we find that a reasonable observer, aware of the purpose, context, and history of the phrase "In God we trust," would not consider its use or its reproduction on U.S. currency to be an endorsement of religion. (Gaylor vs USA, 10th Cir. 1996) References The Eagle and the Shield, Department of State , 1976 The Great Seal of the United States, Dept. of State publication, 1980.

Presidential Seal Speaks of Peace, Newsday. 6 January 1995. Truman, David McCullough, New York: Touchstone Books, 1993. Created by: Bill Nelson, Venturing Committee Chairman, Grand Canyon Council, Boy Scouts of America. Please let me know of any additions or corrections. U.S. national mottos: History and constitutionality "And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.' And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." In 1864, the words were shortened to "In God We Trust" and applied to a newly designed two-cent coin. Almost a century and a half ago, eleven Protestant denominations mounted a campaign to add references to God into the U.S. Constitution and other federal documents. Rev. M.R. Watkinson of Ridleyville PA was the first of many to write a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase in 1861 to promote this concept.

2 Watkinson suggested the words "God, Liberty, Law." 3 In 1863, Chase asked the Director of the Mint, James Pollock to prepare suitable wording for a motto to be used on Union coins used during the Civil War. Pollock suggested "Our Trust Is In God," "Our God And Our Country," "God And Our Country," and "God Our Trust." Chase picked "In God We Trust" to be used on some of the government's coins. The phrase was a subtle reminder that the Union considered itself on God's side with respect to slavery . Ironically, so could the Confederacy; both could quote copious Bible passages in support of their position. Congress passed enabling legislation. Since a 1837 Act of Congress already specified the mottos and devices that were to be placed on U.S. coins, it was necessary to pass another Act to enable the motto to be added. This was done on 1886-APR-22. "The motto has been in continuous use on the one-cent coin since 1909, and on the ten-cent coin since 1916.

It also has appeared on all gold coins and silver dollar coins, half-dollar coins, and quarter-dollar coins struck since" 1908-JUL-1. 3 Decades later, Theodore Roosevelt disapproved of the motto. In a letter to William Boldly on 1907-NOV-11, he wrote: "My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it in any kindred manner, not only does no good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege...It is a motto which it is indeed well to have inscribed on our great national monuments, in our temples of justice, in our legislative halls, and in building such as those at West Point and Annapolis -- in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon.

But it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements." In 1956, the nation was suffering through the height of the cold war, and the McCarthy anti-communist witch hunt. Partly in reaction to these factors, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution to replace the existing motto with "In God we Trust." The president signed the resolution into law on 1956-JUL-30. The change was partly motivated by a desire to differentiate between communism, which promotes Atheism , and Western capitalistic democracies, which were at least nominally Christian. The phrase "Atheistic Communists" has been repeated so many times that the public has linked Atheism with communism; the two are often considered synonymous. Many consider Atheism as unpatriotic and un-American as is communism. The new motto was first used on paper money in 1957, when it was added to the one-dollar silver certificate. By 1966, "In God we Trust" was added to all paper money, from $1 to $100 denominations.

3 Most communists, worldwide, are Atheists. But, in North America, the reverse is not true; most Atheists are non-communists. Although there are many Atheistic and Humanistic legislators at the federal and state levels, few if any are willing to reveal their beliefs, because of the immense prejudice against Atheism . If they were open about their beliefs, none would ever have been elected. During the 1950's the federal government's references to God multiplied: The phrase "under God" was added to the otherwise secular Pledge of Allegiance . "So help me God" was added as a suffix to the oaths of office for federal justices and judges. However, they are not compelled to recite the words . There has been a widespread belief that every president since George Washington has said these words during his inauguration. The belief appears to be without merit. American paper currency since 1957 has included the motto "In God We Trust." 4 The Freedom from Religion Foundation has been unable to find any other country in the world which has a religious motto on their money.

5 However, it appears that: The Dutch have had a religious motto on their money for over a century (one source says since the 18th century; an other says since 1816 CE ). Coins carry the motto "God zij met ons." ("God be with us."). This motto has been carried over into the Netherlands version of the new 2 euro coin. 6,7 During the 1980's, former president Jose Sarney introduced into Brazilian paper money the phrase "Deus seja louvado" ("God be praised.") Although not a motto, many British coins contain a drawing of the queen identified as "Elizabeth II D.G. REG. F.D." This is an abbreviation of a Latin phrase which means "Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen, Defender of the Faith." In Britain, the monarch is the head of the Church of England. Canadian coins carry the phrase "Elizabeth II D.G. Regina." She is the queen of Canada but is not the "Defender of the Faith," because Canada does not have a state religion for her to defend. Sponsored link: Is the motto constitutional?

The "In God we Trust" motto promotes theistic religion at the expense of non theistic religion and a secular lifestyle. It promotes the belief in a single, male deity which is followed by the main Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam; however, it is foreign to the beliefs of many other religions: Buddhists do not believe in a personal deity; Zoroastrians and Wiccans believe in two deities; Hindus believe in many. It would seem to violate the principle of separation of church and state . Many Agnostics , Atheists , Buddhists , Hindus , Wiccans , other Neopagans , and others are offended by the motto. However, the religious motto has been challenged by three lawsuits and has been found to be constitutional. The courts basically found that the motto does not endorse religion. "Aronow v. United States," 432 F.2d 242 (1970) in the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit The court ruled that: "It is quite obvious that the national motto and the slogan on coinage and currency 'In God We Trust' has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion.

Its use is of patriotic or ceremonial character and bears no true resemblance to a governmental sponsorship of a religious exercise." "Madalyn Murray O'Hair, et al. v. W. Michael Blumenthal, Secretary of Treasury, et al." 588 F.2d 1144 (1979) in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Ms. O'Hair is (in)famous for successfully challenging compulsory prayer in U.S. public schools. The United States District Court, Western District of Texas, referring to the wording of the Ninth Circuit above, ruled that: "From this it is easy to deduce that the Court concluded that the primary purpose of the slogan was secular; it served as secular ceremonial purpose in the obviously secular function of providing a medium of exchange. As such it is equally clear that the use of the motto on the currency or otherwise does not have a primary effect of advancing religion." This ruling was sustained by the Fifth Circuit court. 1 The Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. conducted a national survey which showed that "In God We Trust" was regarded as religious by an overwhelming percentage of U.S. citizens.

They initiated a lawsuit on 1994-JUN-8 in Denver CO to have it removed from U.S. paper currency and coins. They also wanted it to be discontinued as the national motto. Their lawsuit was dismissed by the district Court without trial, on the grounds that "In God We Trust" is not a religious phrase! The Tenth-Circuit federal judge confirmed the dismissal, stating in part: "...we find that a reasonable observer, aware of the purpose, context, and history of the phrase 'In God we trust,' would not consider its use or its reproduction on U.S. currency to be an endorsement of religion." 5 The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review all of these rulings. It might be embarrassing to them, because the motto also hangs on the wall at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has commented in passing on the motto saying that: "[o]ur previous opinions have considered in dicta the motto and the pledge [of allegiance], characterizing them as consistent with the proposition that government may not communicate an endorsement of religious belief." Allegheny, 492 U.S.

Federal bill signed into law: A bill to reaffirm "In God We Trust" as the national motto, and the phrase "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance was passed with a 99% vote in the House, and unanimously in the Senate. Rep. Todd Akin, (R-MO) voted for the measure. Apparently he is unaware that the "Under God" phrase is a relatively recent addition to the Pledge. He said: "I think the Congress was expressing the fact that they support the recitation of the pledge as it has always been supported. I think they're further saying that there isn't any problem with the First Amendment." Historian David Barton, president of WallBuilders, said: "This bill has no effect on the 'Under God' controversies, because we have seen in a number of cases that when Congress does something, the Supreme Court almost feels compelled to tell them to back off and leave them alone." 8 Sponsored links: References used in this essay: The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

"God on our coins," American Atheists at: "History of the motto 'In God We Trust'," Department of the Treasury, at: "History of 'In God We Trust'," U.S. Department of the Treasury, at: Authorized by HR 619, 1955-JUN-29. "U.S. Supreme Court turns down Foundation appeal," Freedom From Religion Foundation, at: "Euro introduction much more than just a replacement of guilder: National currency symbols end centuries-long history," The Windmill, 1999-OCT-7, at: "Euro coins: Country specific side: Holland," at: Steve Jordahl, "President Signs Law Affirming God in the Pledge," Focus on the Family, CitizenLink, 2002-NOV-15. "In God We Trust: History of the motto of the U.S.A.," Cornerstone Ministries, 1997-DEC-01, at: Other Internet references: R.C.

Reynolds, "In God we trust; All others pay cash," at: Suzy Meyer, "'In God We Trust' belongs in parent's curriculum," Cortez (CO) Journal, at: "In God We Trust: II Timothy 1:12," Grace Baptist Church, Bloomington IN, at: Pastor Randy, "In God We Trust: Psalm 33:6-12," at: Copyright © 2000 to 2012 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Originally written: 2000-AUG-13 History of 'In God We Trust' History of 'In God We Trust' Page Content The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins. From Treasury Department records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R.

Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania, and read: Dear Sir: You are about to submit your annual report to the Congress respecting the affairs of the national finances. One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins. You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were not shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words PERPETUAL UNION; within the ring the allseeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath this eye the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States united; in the folds of the bars the words GOD, LIBERTY, LAW. This would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters.

To you first I address a subject that must be agitated. As a result, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861: Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition. It was found that the Act of Congress dated January 18, 1837, prescribed the mottoes and devices that should be placed upon the coins of the United States. This meant that the mint could make no changes without the enactment of additional legislation by the Congress. In December 1863, the Director of the Mint submitted designs for new one-cent coin, two-cent coin, and three-cent coin to Secretary Chase for approval. He proposed that upon the designs either OUR COUNTRY; OUR GOD or GOD, OUR TRUST should appear as a motto on the coins.

In a letter to the Mint Director on December 9, 1863, Secretary Chase stated: I approve your mottoes, only suggesting that on that with the Washington obverse the motto should begin with the word OUR, so as to read OUR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY. And on that with the shield, it should be changed so as to read: IN GOD WE TRUST. The Congress passed the Act of April 22, 1864. This legislation changed the composition of the one-cent coin and authorized the minting of the two-cent coin. The Mint Director was directed to develop the designs for these coins for final approval of the Secretary. IN GOD WE TRUST first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin. Another Act of Congress passed on March 3, 1865. It allowed the Mint Director, with the Secretary's approval, to place the motto on all gold and silver coins that "shall admit the inscription thereon." Under the Act, the motto was placed on the gold double-eagle coin, the gold eagle coin, and the gold half-eagle coin.

It was also placed on the silver dollar coin, the half-dollar coin and the quarter-dollar coin, and on the nickel three-cent coin beginning in 1866. Later, Congress passed the Coinage Act of February 12, 1873. It also said that the Secretary "may cause the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to be inscribed on such coins as shall admit of such motto." The use of IN GOD WE TRUST has not been uninterrupted. The motto disappeared from the five-cent coin in 1883, and did not reappear until production of the Jefferson nickel began in 1938. Since 1938, all United States coins bear the inscription. Later, the motto was found missing from the new design of the double-eagle gold coin and the eagle gold coin shortly after they appeared in 1907. In response to a general demand, Congress ordered it restored, and the Act of May 18, 1908, made it mandatory on all coins upon which it had previously appeared. IN GOD WE TRUST was not mandatory on the one-cent coin and five-cent coin.

It could be placed on them by the Secretary or the Mint Director with the Secretary's approval. The motto has been in continuous use on the one-cent coin since 1909, and on the ten-cent coin since 1916. It also has appeared on all gold coins and silver dollar coins, half-dollar coins, and quarter-dollar coins struck since July 1, 1908. A law passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and approved by the President on July 30, 1956, the President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States. IN GOD WE TRUST was first used on paper money in 1957, when it appeared on the one-dollar silver certificate. The first paper currency bearing the motto entered circulation on October 1, 1957. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) was converting to the dry intaglio printing process. During this conversion, it gradually included IN GOD WE TRUST in the back design of all classes and denominations of currency.

As a part of a comprehensive modernization program the BEP successfully developed and installed new high-speed rotary intaglio printing presses in 1957. These allowed BEP to print currency by the dry intaglio process, 32 notes to the sheet. One-dollar silver certificates were the first denomination printed on the new high-speed presses. They included IN GOD WE TRUST as part of the reverse design as BEP adopted new dies according to the law. The motto also appeared on one-dollar silver certificates of the 1957-A and 1957-B series. BEP prints United States paper currency by an intaglio process from engraved plates. It was necessary, therefore, to engrave the motto into the printing plates as a part of the basic engraved design to give it the prominence it deserved. One-dollar silver certificates series 1935, 1935-A, 1935-B, 1935-C, 1935-D, 1935-E, 1935-F, 1935-G, and 1935-H were all printed on the older flat-bed presses by the wet intaglio process. P.L.

84-140 recognized that an enormous expense would be associated with immediately replacing the costly printing plates. The law allowed BEP to gradually convert to the inclusion of IN GOD WE TRUST on the currency. Accordingly, the motto is not found on series 1935-E and 1935-F one-dollar notes. By September 1961, IN GOD WE TRUST had been added to the back design of the Series 1935-G notes. Some early printings of this series do not bear the motto. IN GOD WE TRUST appears on all series 1935-H one-dollar silver certificates. Below is a listing by denomination of the first production and delivery dates for currency bearing IN GOD WE TRUST: DENOMINATION National Motto of the United States | In God We Trust National motto In God we Trust on U.S. penny ( public domain image on Wikipedia ). Official National Motto of the United States In 1956 the President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress declaring IN GOD WE TRUST as the national motto of the United States.

Most Americans are only familiar with the first verse of Francis Scott Key's 1814 poem The Star Spangled Banner , but the fourth verse includes: And this be our motto: In God is our trust. The original motto of the United States was E Pluribus Unum (Latin for one from many or one from many parts), referring to the welding of a single federal state from a group of individual political units (the original colonies, now states). E Pluribus Unum remains on the Great Seal of the United States. Each of the 50 United States also has an official motto . From U.S. Department of the Treasury: IN GOD WE TRUST first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin. The motto has been in continuous use on the one-cent coin since 1909, and on the ten-cent coin since 1916. It also has appeared on all gold coins and silver dollar coins, half-dollar coins, and quarter-dollar coins struck since July 1, 1908.

National (U.S.) United States Motto, Nicknames and Slogans "In God We Trust" (Official) The official United States motto was first seen on a coin during the Civil War in 1864. But it was only much later (July 30, 1956) during the cold war it was proclaimed by Congress and signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The official adoption was an attempt to differentiate between the West's Christian values and the atheistic values of communism. If we go further back, the U.S. motto was born out of a wish to combine religious and national sentiments. The initial promoter was a Rev. M.R. Watkinson of Ridleyville PA who ambitiously wrote several letters to the Secretary of Treasury, Salmon P Chase, suggesting among other things "God, Liberty, Law". This specific suggestion in itself was not accepted but the idea of fusing religious and national feelings was, so in 1863 James Pollock (Director of the Mint) was asked to come up with a United States motto that could be used on coins.

Pollock had quite a few suggestions: "God Our Trust", "God And Our Country", "Our God And Our Country", and "Our Trust Is In God". Chase chose a variation of the above "In God We Trust". The sentiments behind the U.S motto was that the Union sided with God in relation to the issue of slavery. The State of Florida has the same motto as the United States. "E Pluribus Unum" (Former unofficial motto) This U.S. motto is a Latin motto which in English mean "One From Many" or "One From Many Parts". This U.S. motto became part of the great seal in 1782 and was considered the national motto. The symbolic meaning behind the motto was the great value of fusing of many different parts into one strong unit - from individual units to a federal state. United States Nicknames Whereas there is only one official U.S. motto, there exist a number of state nicknames for the U.S.: "Uncle Sam" This U.S. nickname symbolically represents the government of the United States. "Uncle Sam" was first seen as a cartoon character in magazines and newspapers in the early 19th century.

The story goes that the inspiration for this "Uncle Sam" character was a meat purveyor by the name of Samuel Wilson. Known as Uncle Sam he put his initials (U.S.) on his meat. Subsequently U.S. was seen as an abbreviation for the United States. It was only later that Uncle Sam evolved into the white haired man with the top hat that we know today. "The Land of the Free" "The Melting Pot" This American nickname is a metaphor for a society in which internal differences 'melt' together and become a unified whole. This nickname is most often used when talking about the desirability of immigrants' assimilation. This notion, however, is challenged by advocates of multiculturalism. "The Land of Opportunity" This U.S. nickname refers to the United States promoting itself as "The Land of Opportunity" where any individual irrelevant of social class and national background could reach status and success. "The Promised Land" United States of America USA Flag Seal Emblem Motto National Anthem Symbols A large selection of USA flags Great Seal of the United States: The seal was developed by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson at the direction of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1776.

A final design was approved in 1782, and today (both sides) are found on the back of the U.S. one-dollar bill, and often stamped onto specific documents, including foreign treaties and presidential proclamations. Detailed drawings and additional information National Emblem: The Bald Eagle was officially declared the National Emblem of the United States by the Second Continental Congress in 1782. It was selected by the USA's founding fathers because it is a species unique to North America. It has become the living symbol of the USA's freedom, spirit and pursuit of excellence. Its image and symbolism have played a significant role in American architecture, art, folklore and music. Official Motto: "In God We Trust" Note that "E Pluribus Unum" (out of many, one) was made popular during Revolutionary War times, and there is ample basis in Congressional actions, history and law for referring to it as a motto of the United States.

National Anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner" Originally a poem, it was composed by Francis Scott Key during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry; Reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. (2011; 112th Congress H.Con.Res. 13) - GovTrack.us govtrack.us Follow GovTrack on social media for more updates: On GovTrack Insider: H.Con.Res. 13 (112th): Reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. ··· Status: Died in a previous Congress This resolution was introduced in a previous session of Congress and was passed by the House on November 1, 2011 but was never passed by the Senate. Sponsor: Representative for Virginia's 4th congressional district Republican Last Updated: Nov 2, 2011 Length: 3 pages This activity took place on a related bill, H.Con.Res.

274 (111th) . Jan 26, 2011 Ordered Reported by Committee A committee has voted to issue a report to the full chamber recommending that the bill be considered further. Only about 1 in 4 bills are reported out of committee. Passed House View Vote » Read Updated Text » See Changes » H.Con.Res. 13 (112th) was a concurrent resolution in the United States Congress. A concurrent resolution is often used for matters that affect the rules of Congress or to express the sentiment of Congress. It must be agreed to by both the House and Senate in identical form but is not signed by the President and does not carry the force of law. This concurrent resolution was introduced in the 112th Congress, which met from Jan 5, 2011 to Jan 3, 2013. Legislation not enacted by the end of a Congress is cleared from the books. How to cite this information. We recommend the following MLA-formatted citation when using the information you see here in academic work: Civic Impulse. (2017). H.Con.Res.

13 — 112th Congress: Reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States and supporting ... Retrieved from “H.Con.Res. 13 — 112th Congress: Reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States and supporting ...” 2011. January 19, 2017 < {{cite web |work=Legislation |publisher=GovTrack.us |quote=Reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States and supporting ... }} Wikipedia Template Where is this information from? GovTrack automatically collects legislative information from a variety of governmental and non-governmental sources. This page is sourced primarily from Congress.gov , the official portal of the United States Congress. Congress.gov is generally updated one day after events occur, and so legislative activity shown here may be one day behind. Data via the congress project . site Menu You are encouraged to reuse any material on this site. GovTrack supports other Congress-tracking websites through our open data . × × Welcome to GovTrack.us Thank you for giving GovTrack a try.

Like OpenCongress, GovTrack is for researching and tracking legislation before the U.S. Congress. ★ Things here should seem very familiar to you. OpenCongress and GovTrack have always had a data sharing partnership, so you’ll find the exact same information here as what you had on OpenCongress, just arranged a little differently. And GovTrack has actually been here for more than a decade. This is the site that began the movement to improve access to Congress using technology. Unlike OpenCongress, we’re funded through advertising and crowdfunding. ★ For more, please see About Us , or follow us @GovTrack on Twitter, on Facebook , or on Medium . × Congress is about to wake up. When President-elect Trump takes office on January 20, the House, Senate, and White House will be controlled by the same party for the first time in six years. Things are going to happen fast. Congress is expected to move quickly on Trump's agenda using the same tactics immune to the filibuster that Democrats used to enact the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Now more than ever we need transparency in Congress. Over the last year we’ve helped 10 million Americans track Congress using bill alerts.

We hope to continue GovTrack Insider , where we put the most important legislation into plain English. We've also worked with Congress on improving transparency at the source. We now need your help. We’re simply out of money. We can’t continue GovTrack Insider or improve our bill tracking tools without your financial support. Important pieces of GovTrack will end on December 31 if we can’t pay for it. If you are able, please: Thanks very much for being a part of GovTrack. Joshua Tauberer US National Motto: In God We Trust "In God We Trust" Adopted on July 30, 1956 In God We Trust is the official national motto of the United States and the US state of Florida. The modern motto of the United States of America, as established in a 1956 by an Act of Congress and signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, is In God we trust. The motto first appeared on a United States coin in 1864. US National Motto "In God We Trust The original national motto: "E Pluribus Unum" The original motto of the United States was secular.

"E Pluribus Unum" is Latin for "One from many" or "One from many parts." It refers to the welding of a single federal state from a group of individual political units - originally colonies and now states. On 1776-JUL-4, Congress appointed John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson to prepare a design for the Great Seal of the United States. The first design, submitted to Congress on 1776-AUG-10 used the motto "E Pluribus Unum." It was rejected. Five other designs also failed to meet with Congress' approval during the next five years. In 1782, Congress asked Mr. Thomson, Secretary of Congress, to complete the project. Thomson, along with a friend named Barton, produced a design that was accepted by Congress on 1782-JUN-10. It included an eagle with a heart-shaped shield, holding arrows and an olive branch in its claws. The motto "E Pluribus Unum" appeared on a scroll held in its beak. The seal was first used on 1782-SEP-16.

It was first used on some federal coins in 1795. The replacement motto: "In God We Trust:" The national motto originated with Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, during the Civil War. Prompted by a letter from Rev. M. R. Watkinson, of Ridleyville, Pennsylvania, asking for a recognition of "the Almighty God in some form in our coins," Chase requested Congress to pass a law changing the composition of the 2-cent piece to include the motto "In God We Trust." The law was passed on April 22, 1864. That same year, the two-cent coin was the first bearing the inscription. Eventually the motto appeared on all US coins and currencies. When the double eagle and eagle of new design appeared in 1907, it was soon discovered that the motto had been omitted. In response to a general demand, Congress ordered it restored, and the act of May 18, 1908, made mandatory its appearance upon all coins upon which it had heretofore appeared.

The act approved July 11, 1955, makes appearance of the motto "In God We Trust" mandatory upon all coins of the United States (69 Stat. 290. 31 US Code 324a). On July 30, 1956, a law was passed stating "the national motto of the United States is hereby declared to be 'In God We Trust'." (70 Stat. 732. 36 US Code 186). This did not repeal or prohibit the phrase E Pluribis Unum as a national motto. In 1963 the Department of State took the following position: "'In God We Trust' is the motto of the United States. It seems to the Department, nevertheless, that there is ample basis both in history and law for calling 'E Pluribus Unum' a motto of the United States." The Congress has used both. Mottos of the States State motto is a word, phrase, or sentence inscribed on or attached to a coin, building, or other object. The motto states an important idea for a group of people within the state. Colleges & Universities

Question: What is the official motto of the USA?
Answer: IN GOD WE TRUST